National female hockey team to participate in BHF Int’l hockey series

Guyana’s national female hockey team will suit up for a number of international showdowns from June 28 to July 1 in Barbados when they participate in the Barbados Hockey Federation (BHF) 2018 International Women’s Hockey series.

The series will see Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago going at each other for championship honours.

The tournament, which is sanctioned by the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) also has an added incentive – the physiological edge for the winners since the trio is billed to play each other in the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games in Colombia. “The tournament is good for us, [since] Barbados and Trinidad – the two teams we are playing against – are in our group at the CAC games. It will give us a chance to know exactly where we are”, Coach Damon Woodroffe told Stabroek Sport when asked to assess the importance of the campaign as part of the team’s CAC preparations.

Woodroffe also backed his girls to topple the host and Trinidad, indicating that the South Americans have a “very good chance” despite the disruptions of the weather which affects the team’s preparations.

“I think we have a very good chance.”

However, he explained, “[It’s been] very difficult with the present weather conditions and the lack of a proper all-weather facility (artificial surface).” Guyana will open their account on the opening day of the tournament against both opponents, playing Barbados at 9:00 am after which they will take on the Twin Island Republic later in the afternoon from 3:45.

Teams will then be given a rest day which will precede the resumption on the final two days on June 30 and July 1 when a champion will be crowned.